The Palestinian Authority appears to be disintegrating, and so is its chairman, Yasser Arafat:
During Thursday's meeting, Arafat security aide Nasser Yusouf expressed doubt in regard to the effectiveness of Palestinian security forces as long as there is no reform in the security bodies. According to the report, Arafat hurled a microphone at Yusouf, while the security aide threw a pen at the PA Chairman in response. The two exchanged a series of curses, with Arafat ultimately leaving the meeting.Arafat's days are numbered. Even a terrorist leader requires equanimity in order to project authority. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 27, 2004 07:00 AM
When you said Arafat is disintegrating, my first thought was, taking it literally, "Cool beans!" My second thought was, "How could you tell?" I've always thought he looked like he had bathed in a mild acid and was slowly dissolving.
Posted by: Carol on February 27, 2004 05:58 AMMay they kill each other. They are all pure evil.
Posted by: Joel on February 27, 2004 06:03 AMI'd rejoice too, but the prospect for a nasty civil war with the most organized set of murderers coming out on top is perhaps even worse than Arafat doddering along for another couple of years. Imagine a proxy war with the Europeans competing with Iran to set up the next puppet.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on February 27, 2004 08:35 AMArafat's days are numbered only in the same sense that all of our days are numbered (we are not elves you know).
He has survived worse internal strife than a stray scripto. Arafat controls the cash, and Europe likes it that way. If Bush who hates Arafat is too afraid to let Israel dispose of him, there is no hope for anything but a continuation of the long and painful union with the old nazi.
While we will all rejoice in his desent into the hottest spot in hell, the poison that he planted in "his people" will guarantee his spirit and life's work will continue to be done by the next abu to come along in his place. Of course with the new abu will come new threats from the Powell administration that Palestine is officially open for business because Arafat is gone.
That has been my biggest criticism of making Arafat THE obstacle to peace. It is the sick and twisted culture that he and Muhammed has spawned that is the real obstacle to peace and no ringwraiths death alone will defear Sauron.
Posted by: J. Lichty on February 27, 2004 10:35 AMJ. Lichty
"If Bush who hates Arafat is too afraid to let Israel dispose of him, there is no hope for anything ..."
Just have a read of Caroline Glick's column today and you will understand that from State's point of view it is Israel...:
Column One: Surrealism vs Reality
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1077768898105&p=1006953079897
"Yet aside from condemning every action Israel has taken to combat terrorism and thereby equating actions aimed at protecting Israeli citizens with terrorism, the report does something even more offensive.
The report very sensitively gives the names of a dozen or so Palestinian children who died during Israeli assaults against Palestinian terrorists who used these children for cover.
Yet, grotesquely, while the names of Palestinian children are listed, the report provides not one name of any Israeli victim of Palestinian terrorism."
Posted by: Barry on February 27, 2004 12:52 PMAnyone have an address where we can send throwing knives for the next PA meeting?
Posted by: Dave on February 27, 2004 05:15 PMCharles Johnson used to show photos of Arafat's desk at various PA meetings, which always had a package of Baby Wipes on it. He wondered why they were there. Now we know: useful for cleaning up the gore after the meeting.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on February 27, 2004 06:44 PM